Hands Free Pumping Garment

ABSTRACT

A nursing garment system to facilitate selective nursing and hands-free breastpumping having at least one connector configured to selectively connect a nursing bra to at least one of a hands-free breastpumping device, a nursing cover, and a breast cup of the system is disclosed. The at least one connector may include a closing device partially attached to each of the at least one of the hands-free breastpumping device, the nursing cover, and the breast cup of the system, the closing device configured to connect to a nursing bra closing device. The system may include a pumping garment having a partial  figure 8  edge.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.62/312,454, filed Mar. 23, 2016, and entitled “Nursing Garment System,”is claimed and the entire contents thereof are incorporated by referenceherein.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This disclosure relates generally to a garment for a nursing woman usinga breast pump to extract milk from her breasts for storage andsubsequent feeding of an infant. The garment supports the portion of abreast pump system known as a breast shield, freeing the nursing woman'shands to carry out other tasks besides holding one or two breast shieldsin place.

BACKGROUND

Breastfeeding of an infant provides numerous benefits to the infant andthe breastfeeding woman. Breastmilk contains all of the nutrients a babyneeds in the exact amounts required for optimal growth and development.Breastfed babies are healthier, having fewer middle ear infections,fewer respiratory infections, a decreased risk of developing allergies,cancer, childhood diabetes, and obesity, and being less prone to developheart diseases, eczema, and asthma. For the breastfeeding woman,breastfeeding reduces post-delivery bleeding and chances of anaemia,aids in the uterus returning to its original size after birth, and burnsup to an extra 500 calories per day.

However, not every nursing woman is able to breastfeed an infant ondemand due to work schedules and other time demands. Accordingly, manynursing women use a breast pump to extract and store milk for feeding aninfant. Breast pump systems routinely include a breast shield, which isa funnel-like apparatus having a conical region that is placed againstthe breast with the nipple in the center of the breast shield. Upon theapplication of negative pressure, the nipple is drawn toward, and ofteninto, a tubular portion of the breast shield known as the nipple tunnel.The nipple tunnel of the breast shield is connected to other componentsof a breastmilk collection kit. This connection permits application ofintermittent (i.e., cyclical) negative pressure to the interior of thebreast shield, and also provides a flow path for breastmilk expressedinto the nipple tunnel to be collected in a collection receptacle. Thecollection receptacle may be a breastmilk container having a threadedcap that can serve as a bottle for feeding an infant. A nursing womangenerally has to hold the breast shield against her breast manually inorder to pump milk.

Predictably, holding the breast shield in place is inconvenient andlimits the tasks that the woman could otherwise accomplish whilepumping. Although various brassieres and bustiers have been developed tohold the breast shield in place, such brassieres and bustiers havegenerally failed to adequately secure the breast shield and haverequired holding or frequent adjusting of the breast shield.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the disclosure, a nursing garment systemincludes at least one connector configured to selectively connect anursing bra to at least one of a hands-free breastpumping device, anursing cover, and a breast cup. The nursing garment system is designedto facilitate selective nursing and hands-free breastpumping. In somearrangements, the at least one connector further comprises a closingdevice partially attached to each of the at least one of the hands-freebreastpumping device, the nursing cover, and the breast cup, the closingdevice configured to connect to a nursing bra closing device. Theclosing device may be a clip, and the nursing bra closing device may bea nursing bra clip. Accordingly, the at least one connector may comprisea clip attached to each of the at least one of the hands-freebreastpumping device, the nursing cover, and the breast cup, the atleast one connector further comprising a nursing bra clip, each clip ofthe at least one of the hands-free breastpumping device, the nursingcover, and the breast cup configured to snap fit with the nursing braclip. In some arrangements, two connectors are provided, one on each oftwo straps of the nursing bra, to selectively connect the two straps ofthe nursing bra to at least one of a hands-free breastpumping device, anursing cover, and a breast cup.

In some arrangements, a closure device may be disposed at the back of abottom band of the system. More specifically, a pumping garment mayinclude a bottom band having a fastening mechanism at a back of thepumping garment. The fastening device may include multiple points ofclosure to adjust the circumference of the bottom band when the pumpinggarment is in a closed state. The fastening mechanism may be one ofsnaps, Velcro, and hook and eye closures.

In some arrangements, the system may include a pumping garment having apartial figure 8 elastic edge. In some arrangements, the system mayinclude a pumping garment having an exterior hole adapted to receive abreastshield capable of being inserted from an outside of the pumpinggarment. The pumping garment may include an elastic edge that starts ata side edge or top edge of the pumping garment, makes a loop at an apex,and ends at a top edge or a side edge of the pumping garment.Alternately, the pumping garment may include an elastic edge extendingacross a front of the pumping garment. In some arrangements, an elasticedge surrounds an exterior hole of the pumping garment and is adapted tostretch to accommodate breastshields of a variety of sizes.

In some arrangements, the nursing cover is connected to the nursing braat a top edge of the nursing cover. The nursing cover may be secured inplace only by the connection to the nursing bra. The nursing cover maybe connected to two straps of the nursing bra.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing outand distinctly claiming the subject matter that is regarded as thepresent disclosure, it is believed that the disclosure will be morefully understood from the following description taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings. Some of the figures may have beensimplified by the omission of selected elements for the purpose of moreclearly showing other elements. Such omissions of elements in somefigures are not necessarily indicative of the presence or absence ofparticular elements in any of the exemplary embodiments, except as maybe explicitly delineated in the corresponding written description. Noneof the drawings are necessarily to scale.

FIG. 1A illustrates a front perspective view of nursing bra in a closedand

fastened state, the nursing bra having two straps, each strap having atwo-piece connector.

FIG. 1B illustrates a rear perspective view of the nursing bra depictedin FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2A illustrates a front view of a pumping garment of a hands-freebreastpumping device in a fastened state, the pumping garment includinga partial figure 8 elastic edge configured to support a breast shield ofthe hands-free breastpumping device.

FIG. 2B illustrates a rear view of the pumping garment depicted in FIG.2A.

FIG. 3A illustrates an exterior view of the pumping garment depicted inFIG. 2A and 2B, the pumping garment being shown in an unfastened state.

FIG. 3B illustrates an interior view of the pumping garment depicted inFIGS. 2A, 2B, and 3A, the pumping garment being shown in an unfastenedstate.

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the pumping garment depicted inFIGS. 2A, 2B, 3A, and 3B on a wearer.

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the pumping garment depicted inFIGS. 2A, 2B, 3A, and 3B on a wearer supporting bottles and breastshields of the hands-free breastpumping device.

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of another pumping garment of ahands-free breastpumping device in a fastened state on a wearer, thepumping garment including an elastic edge extending across the front ofthe pumping garment.

FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of a nursing cover connected bytwo-piece connectors to straps of a nursing bra on a wearer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A clip in pumping garment system, or nursing garment system is herebydisclosed. The clip in pumping garment system is configured toaccommodate selective attachment of a pumping garment that covers thewearer's breasts except the nipples and secures a breast shield adjacentto each breast. The clip in pumping garment system is intended to beused by a woman that is already wearing a nursing bra with suitableconnectors, such as clip in cups. The hands free clip in pumping bustieris intended to be clipped into the existing nursing connectors, or clipsthat the woman is wearing to secure the garment at the top. The bottomof the pumping bustier is secured by an elastic band extending aroundthe body and secured with a suitable fastening device in the back.

The clip in pumping garment system is designed to be worn with a nursingbra that comes with a suitable connecting device, for example, a twopart clip device or other suitable device that is typically placed abovethe nursing bra cups (1) shown in FIG. 1. One part of the two part clipdevice is attached to the bra strap (2) and the other part of the deviceis attached to the top edge of the bra cup (3). When a lactating womandisconnects this device she is able to pull the bra cup down to revealher breast thus enabling her to breastfeed or attached her breast to abreast shield. The clip in pumping garment is designed to clip into theportion of the nursing bra clip assembly that is attached to her brastrap (2). The clip in pumping garment has a suitable connector, such asa clip (4) depicted in FIG. 2A attached to the top edge that clips intothe existing nursing bra anchor (2).

By utilizing the connector or anchor assembly of the existing nursingbra anchor point for the clip in pumping garment system, it providessupport to the weight of the bottles as they are filled with milk. Theuse of the existing clip also provides the ability for the user toadjust her bra strap while wearing the hands free clip in pumpinggarment. This adjustment can improve the fit of the garment and ensurethat the breast shield is centered on the nipple during use of thepumping bustier. The use of the existing nursing bra anchor enables thewearer to put on the hands free garment or a nursing cover withoutremoving her existing nursing bra. This thereby simplifies the processof putting on the garment because she doesn't need to first remove hernursing bra (14) shown in FIG. 5. In addition, by not being required toremove the existing nursing bra the wearer is able to put on the handsfree pumping bustier garment with far more discretion and only minimalexposure of the breast.

An exemplary embodiment of the clip in pumping garment system is madewith a partial figure 8 elastic edge sewing technique specificallydesigned to improve the functionality of the hands free pumping garmentthat supports the breast shield assembly. The elastic edge (6) shown inFIG. 3A starts at the side or top edge of the garment (7) making a loop(8) at the apex (9) and ends at the top or side edge of the garment(10). The use of the partial figure 8 sewing technique deliverssignificantly improved functionality specifically for use of a handsfree pumping garment because it enables the garment to have a smallexterior hole that can accommodate the insertion of a wide variety ofbreast shield sizes that can be inserted from the outside of the garment(11) shown in FIG. 5. Without the figure 8 design the wearer would berequired to disconnect the breast shield flange (15) from the breastshield tunnel mechanism (16) and insert the assembly from the inside ofthe pumping garment prior to reconnecting the breast shield assembly.Without the figure 8 design, the process as described would be repeatedto remove the breast shield flange after pumping. Yet another exemplaryembodiment of the clip in pumping garment is designed with the elasticedge extending across the front of the garment (10B) shown in FIG. 6.

The clip in pumping garment has a fastening mechanism that is designedto be closed at the back of the wearer (12) shown in FIG. 2 similar tothe typical closing placement of a bra. The fastening device can be amulti row hook and eye closure or any other suitable closure, such as asnaps or Velcro, for example. The fastening device is attached to thebottom band of the clip in pumping garment. The bottom band of thepumping garment extends around the front of the garment. The fasteningdevice can be located at the back of the body and away from the breastsand breast shields enables the bottom band to have multiple points ofclosure (13) shown in FIG. 3A which can adjust the circumference of thegarment around the body. The fastening device at the back of the garmentallows the wearer to achieve the desired tension around the body toimprove the fit of the clip in pumping garment. Placement of thefastening device such as hook and eye closure allows for discrete andsimple set up because the wearer can close the garment around the bodywithout removing her nursing bra or other clothing.

A nursing garment system to facilitate selective nursing and hands-freebreastpumping constructed in accordance with the principles herein caninclude: at least one connector configured to selectively connect anursing bra to at least one of a hands-free breastpumping device, anursing cover shown in FIG. 7, and a breast cup.

The nursing garment system can further include: a closure devicedisposed at the back of a bottom band of the system, if desired.

In an embodiment, the nursing garment system can be further definedwhere the at least one connector includes a closing device partiallyattached to each of the at least one of a hands-free breastpumpingdevice, a nursing cover, and a breast cup, the closing device configuredto connect to the nursing bra closing device.

In another embodiment, the nursing garment system can be further definedwhere the at least one connector includes a clip attached to each of theat least one of a hands-free breastpumping device, a nursing cover, anda breast cup, the connector further including a nursing bra clip, theclip of the at least one of the hands-free breastpumping device, thenursing cover, and the breast cup configured to snap fit with thenursing bra clip.

The nursing garment system may further include two connectors, one oneach of two straps of the nursing bra, to selectively connect the twostraps of the nursing bra to at least one of a hands-free breastpumpingdevice, a nursing cover, and a breast cup.

The nursing garment system may further include a pumping garment havinga partial figure 8 elastic edge.

The nursing garment system may further include a pumping garment havingan exterior hole adapted to receive a breastshield capable of beinginserted from an outside of the pumping garment.

The nursing garment system may further include a pumping garmentconfigured to support a breast shield assembly, the pumping garmentincluding an elastic edge that starts at a side edge or top edge of thepumping garment, makes a loop at an apex, and ends at a top edge or aside edge of the pumping garment.

The nursing garment system may further include including a pumpinggarment configured to support a breast shield assembly, the pumpinggarment including an elastic edge extending across a front of thepumping garment.

The nursing garment system may further include a bottom band having afastening mechanism at a back of a pumping garment, the fastening deviceincluding multiple points of closure to adjust the circumference of thebottom band when the pumping garment is in a closed state.

The nursing garment system may further include the fastening mechanismof the bottom band being one of snaps, Velcro, and hook and eyeclosures.

The nursing garment system may further include a pumping garment havingan elastic edge that surrounds an exterior hole and is adapted tostretch to accommodate breastshields of a variety of sizes.

The nursing garment system may further include the nursing cover beingsecured in place only by the connection to the nursing bra.

The nursing garment system may further include the nursing cover beingconnected to the nursing bra at a top edge of the nursing cover.

The nursing garment system may further include the nursing cover beingconnected to two straps of the nursing bra.

While the present disclosure has been described with respect to certainexemplary embodiments, it will be understood that variations may be madethereto and combinations can be formed therein and varied to form subcombinations that are still within the scope of the appended claims.Additionally, while a particularly-preferred embodiment is illustratedin the drawings of the present disclosure, it will be understood thatthe functional features disclosed and claimed herein can be accomplishedin devices that differ from these drawings, and features of the drawingsare not dictated by either function or by the combinations shown.

1. A nursing garment system to facilitate selective nursing andhands-free breastpumping, comprising: at least one connector configuredto selectively connect a nursing bra to at least one of a hands-freebreastpumping device, a nursing cover, and a breast cup of the system.2. The nursing garment system of claim 1, further comprising: a closuredevice disposed at the back of a bottom band of the system.
 3. Thenursing garment system of claim 1, the at least one connector furthercomprising a closing device partially attached to each of the at leastone of the hands-free breastpumping device, the nursing cover, and thebreast cup of the system, the closing device configured to connect to anursing bra closing device.
 4. The nursing garment system of claim 1,the at least one connector further comprising a clip attached to each ofthe at least one of the hands-free breastpumping device, the nursingcover, and the breast cup of the system, the at least one connectorfurther comprising a nursing bra clip, the clip configured to snap fitwith the nursing bra clip.
 5. The nursing garment system of claim 1,wherein two connectors are provided, one on each of two straps of thenursing bra, to selectively connect the two straps of the nursing bra toat least one of a hands-free breastpumping device, a nursing cover, anda breast cup.
 6. The nursing garment system of claim 1, furtherincluding a pumping garment having a partial figure 8 edge.
 7. Thenursing garment system of claim 1, further including a pumping garmenthaving an exterior hole adapted to receive a breastshield capable ofbeing inserted from an outside of the pumping garment.
 8. The nursinggarment system of claim 1, further including a pumping garmentconfigured to support a breast shield assembly, the pumping garmentincluding an elastic edge that starts at a side edge or top edge of thepumping garment, makes a loop at an apex, and ends at a top edge or aside edge of the pumping garment.
 9. The nursing garment system of claim1, further including a pumping garment configured to support a breastshield assembly, the pumping garment including an elastic edge extendingacross a front of the pumping garment.
 10. The nursing garment of claim8, wherein the pumping garment includes a bottom band having a fasteningmechanism at a back of the pumping garment, the fastening deviceincluding multiple points of closure to adjust the circumference of thebottom band when the pumping garment is in a closed state.
 11. Thenursing garment of claim 10, wherein the fastening mechanism is one ofsnaps, Velcro, and hook and eye closures.
 12. The nursing garment ofclaim 8, wherein the elastic edge surrounds an exterior hole and isadapted to stretch to accommodate breastshields of a variety of sizes.13. The nursing garment system of claim 1, wherein the nursing cover issecured in place only by the connection to the nursing bra.
 14. Thenursing garment system of claim 5, wherein the nursing cover isconnected to the nursing bra at a top edge of the nursing cover.
 15. Thenursing garment system of claim 5, wherein the nursing cover isconnected to the two straps of the nursing bra.
 16. The nursing garmentof claim 9, wherein the pumping garment includes a bottom band having afastening mechanism at a back of the pumping garment, the fasteningdevice including multiple points of closure to adjust the circumferenceof the bottom band when the pumping garment is in a closed state. 17.The nursing garment of claim 16, wherein the fastening mechanism is oneof snaps, Velcro, and hook and eye closures.
 18. The nursing garment ofclaim 9, wherein the elastic edge surrounds an exterior hole and isadapted to stretch to accommodate breastshields of a variety of sizes.19. The nursing garment of claim 10, wherein the elastic edge surroundsan exterior hole and is adapted to stretch to accommodate breastshieldsof a variety of sizes.
 20. The nursing garment of claim 16, wherein theelastic edge surrounds an exterior hole and is adapted to stretch toaccommodate breastshields of a variety of sizes.